KARACHI: Shoaib Akhtar was on Thursday named in the 15-member Islamabad squad for the national Twenty20 Championship in Lahore from October 4 to 8 despite the controversial fast bowler not paying the fine imposed on him by a PCB-appointed tribunal.
Akhtar's name was cleared by the Pakistan Cricket Board which had earlier said he can't play for Pakistan or anywhere in the country unless he first pays a fine of seven million rupees imposed on him by a PCB-appointed appellate tribunal.
"The situation now is that we have asked the Lahore High Court for advice on whether Akhtar can play without paying the fine first. Our legal counsel is waiting for an answer from the court," a senior board official said.
The appellate tribunal had reduced a five-year ban imposed on Akhtar by the board to 18 months and directed him to pay a fine of seven million rupees.
The fast bowler is yet to pay the fine and has filed a writ petition at the Lahore High Court which has given a interim stay order against the 18-month ban.
Senior batsman Younis Khan was not named in any of the 13 regional squads for the Twenty20 tournament as he flies to Australia to play in the Sheffield Shield there.
A board official said Younis was scheduled to fly to Australia on October 3 to join South Australia for which he has already got permission from the board.
"In Younis' case he had already got our clearance to play in Australia before the domestic season schedule was finalised and he is now committed to playing in Australia on condition he will be available for national duty when required," the official said.
Except for Younis, all the other top Pakistani players are playing in the domestic Twenty20 championship.
